Mason spent his freshman year contributing as a burner, a light back best suited for kickoff return and speed sweep duties. He proved his worth as a feature back as a sophomore, using a combination of vision, quickness and toughness to break the 1,000-yard barrier.

Now, Mason's proving he's become an even more complete back in his third season at Auburn. Five games into his junior campaign, Mason ranks third in the SEC in all-purpose yardage at 151.6 yards per game, and he's scored a team-high six touchdowns.

"I just want to show more aspects of my game, find another way to produce for the team and for the offense," Mason said.

His added size has helped. Mason has put on weight each season, bulking up from a 190-pound freshman to a thickly-muscled back who's carrying more than 205 pounds on his 5-foot-9 frame.

All of that added strength has made Mason into a workhorse running back capable of battering his own path through a defense and holding up despite a heavy workload.

In Auburn's past two games against LSU and Ole Miss, Mason has been given 47 carries, and he's responded with 209 yards and three touchdowns, repeatedly breaking tackles and picking up extra yardage after contact.

Mason's improved power is making him into a short-yardage option for the Tigers. Handed three carries in 3rd-and-short situations against Ole Miss, Mason picked up three first downs.

There's not a whole lot of nuance to a short-yardage role. For the most part, a back just has to attack the line of scrimmage, attack the hole and run with determination.

"There are things that scouts at the next level also look for, too, so I try to make 50 percent of my yards after contact," Mason said. "(That) can inspire other players to bring that fire to your game."

Mason is also getting almost all of Auburn's chances to catch the ball out of the backfield, another key part of making the jump to the next level.

After catching just seven passes a year ago, Mason has eight catches for 100 yards this season, including a 29-yard pickup on a screen and a 34-yard wheel route up the left sideline in Auburn's upset win over Ole Miss last week.

"I try to be an all-around player," Mason said. "At running back, you've got to be able to be a balanced back. I try to have all the skills: speed, power, catching the ball. I'm just trying to be great."

For the season, Mason leads Auburn in carries (86) and yards (415), establishing himself as the Tigers' lead back, and he's been one of the nation's most dangerous kick returners, averaging 30.4 yards and busting a 100-yard kickoff return in the season-opener.

Mason's only blemish so far this season have been two fumbles, both at key moments in games. He was involved in a third fumble on Saturday night, a fumble Auburn's coaching staff charged to the offensive line.

Whatever the circumstances, Mason takes those mistakes hard.

"I beat myself up about it. Those things -- they're crucial," Mason said. "Pretty much whoever wins the turnover battles in the game wins the game. You can't have those things. I'm going to correct those things. I doubt I'll put the ball on the ground anymore."

Back when Mason was recruited by the previous Auburn staff, then-offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn saw a tough player with a great attitude.

All those qualities showed up as a freshman.

Now, Malzahn's coaching a different player capable of handling a big-time role.

"He’s a more veteran guy," Malzahn said. "He understands the big picture. He doesn’t just know what he does, but he understands why we do stuff and the adjustments we’ll make. That just comes with experience."

And that makes him the kind of complete player capable of taking his game to the next level again.